TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday called for restraint after the Philippines announced it wanted to change the names of islands and geographical features in part of the South China Sea.

Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said on his X feed Friday that he had signed a resolution recommending standard Philippine names for 131 “features of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.” The area refers to the Nansha Islands and to parts of the South China Sea included in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said each side involved in the dispute about Nansha should exercise restraint and avoid any action complicating the situation, per CNA. Each side should use peaceful means through rational dialogue to resolve the situation according to international law, the ministry said.

Maintaining the freedom of navigation and of overflight in the area had become an international consensus, according to the ministry. Putting disputes aside and working on the joint development of the area is Taiwan’s basic stance on the issue.